You flouted court orders as AGF, Onoh fires at Malami

Former spokesman for the South-East to President Bola Tinubu, Mr Josef Onoh, has accused former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, of hypocrisy and ignoring the rule of law while he was in office.

Onoh, who is also the Chairman of the Forum of Former Members of the Enugu State House of Assembly, made this claim in a statement released on Wednesday.

He was responding to Malami’s recent call for the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ola Olukoyede, to step aside from investigations involving him, citing an alleged conflict of interest.

Onoh advised Malami to stop trying to intimidate the leadership of the EFCC and instead cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation.

According to him, Malami’s claim that he is being politically persecuted does not match his record as Attorney-General. Onoh said that during Malami’s time in office, court orders were often ignored and prosecutions were influenced by politics.

He pointed to the 2020 removal of former acting EFCC chairman, Mr Ibrahim Magu, alleging that Malami played a major role in Magu’s suspension and the investigation carried out by the Justice Ayo Salami Judicial Commission of Inquiry.

Onoh also mentioned the long detention of former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), despite several court orders granting him bail, as well as the prosecution of former PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr Olisa Metuh, as examples of disregard for court decisions.

On the issue of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, Onoh said actions taken during Malami’s tenure were widely criticised for violating court orders.

He dismissed Malami’s reliance on the Justice Ayo Salami panel report as a reason for demanding Olukoyede’s removal, explaining that Olukoyede’s role as secretary to the panel does not stop him from overseeing EFCC investigations.

Onoh stressed that the EFCC should be allowed to perform its legal duties without interference and that no former public official is above investigation.

He also challenged Malami to submit himself to due process and defend his actions in court if he believes he has done nothing wrong.